LeBron & Wade Lead Heat To 3rd Consecutive NBA Finals

The Miami Heat were outplayed and embarrassed at times throughout the Eastern Conference Finals, but were at their best during the most opportune time of the series, tonight's Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers.  After a competitive first quarter, the Heat outscored the Pacers 33-16 in the second quarter, took control of the game and never looked back.  LeBron's 32 points led the Miami Heat to a third consecutive NBA Finals as the game's leading scorer.  Dwayne Wade's knee injury plagued him throughout the series, but had a series-high 21 points alongside LeBron's impressive performance.  The Heat won the game's two key statistical battles this evening, free throws and turnovers.  Miami nailed 33/38 free throws tonight compared to Indiana's 14/20.  Indiana struggled offensively throughout the game, as many of the shots that they relied on throughout the series did not fall for them tonight.  They finished with 21 turnovers (9 in the first quarter and 15 by halftime), while Miami totaled 11 in the game.  Miami closed out the Eastern Conference Finals with a 99-76 victory and will face the 5-time Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals beginning Thursday in Game 1.

The NBA Finals will feature a veteran Big 3, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, vs. a Big Money Big 3, Miami's Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.  It will be a fascinating and extended series because so much drama occurred when these two teams met on the court earlier this season.         NBA Commissioner David Stern fined Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich $250K for resting starters Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green for a nationally televised matchup against the Heat on November 29th.  Heat coach Erik Spoelstra returned the favor on March 31st when Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Mario Chalmers were benched for the final regular season meeting, but was not fined.  Although there's not been a true meeting this season, I am not expecting this discrepancy to play the biggest role in the NBA Finals.  Will San Antonio's extended rest or Miami's battle-tested series be the best preparation for the upcoming championship round?  The Big 3 that steps up and carries the load for their team in the series will decide this year's NBA Champion.